Structure and some mechanical properties of Fe₃AI-based cast alloys

In the paper was studies the influence of chemical composition and temperature on the properties, microstructure hardness and ordering process of intermetallics on the base closed to one of Fe₃Al phase. The major problem restricting universal application of intermetallic phase base alloy from Fe-Al system is their low plasticity which leads to hampering their development as construction materials. The analysis were performed for two alloys i.e Fe28Al and Fe28Al-5Cr which were produced by casting and next were annealed for 8, 16 and 48 hours at 1000°C. Both alloys is closed to one of Fe ³AI phase. Mechanical properties were measured by the uniaxial tensile test at room temperature and at 600°C. Some basic mechanical properties i.e. R_0.2, R_m, A₅, Z were determined. Were obtained increasing ductility with a increase the temperature test in air condition for both alloys. Structural examination was carried out using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy There observed that in Fe28Al alloy without Cr phases rich in Fe and Al, which can correspond to FeAlC_0.5 were visible as well as phases rich in Zr. The precipitates rich in Cr and Zr were identified alloy with Cr which probably correspond to FeCr₂ ZrC and Cr₂Zr phases. The fractographs of destruction surfaces after tensile tests shown, that for both alloy at room temperature are brittleness and intergrannular. After the test at 600°C character of the fractures were changed (different). Were observed transgrannular cleavage for both alloys. The ordering process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy. The studied alloys were prepared by melting in induction furnace under vacuum and next were gravitatively casted into cylindrical graphite moulds. After then samples were annealed at 1000°C for 8, 16 and 48 hours. Different behaviour of Fe-28A1 and Fe-28Al-5Cr alloys after annealing were founded. Microstructures for both alloys was similar. Were indicated the presence of phases and precipitates in investigated alloys in the dendritic primary structure which wasn't changes after the heat treatment process. Were observed the influence the time of annealing on the hardness alloys. Increasing time of annealing from 8h to 48h at 1000°C influenced on the increasing of hardness in Fe-28A1 alloy and decreasing of hardness in Fe-28Al-5Cr alloy. X-ray diffraction method were obtained that the Fe₃Al phase of D03 type structure was stated only in the sample of Fe28Al alloy annealed for 48 hours. The FeAl phase appeared to be the main phase in the other samples. All the informations including a some of mechanical properties, analysis of microstructure, long range ordering during the heat treatment of studied alloys could be helpfully for technological processing this materials.